Rachel's job log: 7

There's fresh air as well as airwaves in Rachel Killington's radio work.

Summer dreams…

June 21st – the longest day of the year. As I write, the sky is gradually turning from pale blue to a dark indigo. Swifts dive-bomb each other in the sky, and it’s still daylight even though it’s 9.30 in the evening. I think it’s fairly safe to say that summer has arrived at last.

I love summer. Days at the beach eating chips and playing frisbee on the sand. Weekends spent picking strawberries or sitting in beer gardens and lazy Sunday afternoons in the sunshine where even getting up to get another drink seems a hardship. But nothing can compare to the long, lazy summer days of childhood, where six weeks seemed to stretch on forever and the only thing we worried about was whether the ice cream van would still be there once we had managed to get 50p for lollies from dad.

Carnival week was the best. I adored the colourful costumes and wonderful dancing within the annual parade, and the whole town would get involved – either by being part of the procession, or watching it. It was an event everyone looked forward to.

Carnival time

I’ve managed to cling on to some of that childhood magic. Almost every weekend from now until September there will be a carnival or fete, and I’ll work most of them. We walk in the parades and do little things like opening fetes or drawing raffles as well as providing music and entertainment. Yes they’re long days. You often end up sunburnt and windswept with aching legs and tired eyes. But I love it.

Summer days always seem so full of promise – there is so much opportunity. And even though handing out stickers and playing games with kids at a local summer fayre may not be everybody’s idea of a career choice, it’s the little things that make someone’s day, and knowing I could play a part in shaping memories of blissful childhood summer days makes me proud of the job I do.

Knocked sideways

I haven’t had it easy. I have been rebuffed for more jobs than I can remember and spent weeks just living from day to day wondering if I’d ever be more than just a deli girl at a local supermarket. I recently tried out for another position within the radio station and was gutted when I was told I didn’t really fit the criteria. I tried so hard and it really knocked me sideways for a while.

Yes, I was let down gently and given great feedback as to where I could improve but at the time it made no difference – I felt like a failure. I wanted to just forget about it and put it down to experience but the lyrics in a song I heard on the radio made me re-evaluate the situation completely.

So impossible as it may seem, you’ve got to fight for every dream, cause who’s to know which one you let go could have made you complete.

My best shot

So for me it’s back to square one. I’m not prepared to give up. If anything it’s made me more determined to succeed, and if everybody got what they wished for instantly, life would be very boring and predictable.

I realise now I wasn’t right for the job first time around. But with the right direction and support I know I could be. Maybe not in three or six months' time, and maybe I’ll never be right for that job but I’m going to give it the best shot I can. And I know I’ll be a better person because of it. Nobody ever said life would be easy, and I believe everything happens for a reason.

So bring on the summer. Bring on happiness and laughter, long hazy days filled with sunshine and smiles. There’s so much opportunity and promise, and I know that dreams and memories last forever. After all, it’s the little things that make all the difference…

Read Rachel's last job log.

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